Dr. Burbelo and colleagues have developed a technique for rapidly and quantitatively detecting antibody responses in sera to a variety of pathogens using recombinant proteins. We would like to apply this technique to develop an assay for detecting antibodies to HHV-8 (KSHV, the etiologic agents of Kaposi's sarcoma, an AIDS-defining condition). We initially plan to examine samples from patients with Kaposi's sarcoma, since all those patients are almost certainly infected with HHV-8. We are thus using samples from patients with previously diagnosed Kaposi's sarcoma. The samples in question are stored at the NCI FCRF repository operated by SAIC Frederick or in Rockville, MD.

Further study details as provided by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC):

Estimated Enrollment:

100

Study Start Date:

October 2006

Detailed Description:

Our colleagues have developed a technique for rapidly and quantitatively detecting antibody responses in sera to a variety of antigens using recombinant proteins. We would like to apply this technique to develop an assay for detecting antibodies to HHV- 8 (KSHV, the etiologic agent of Kaposi s sarcoma, an AIDS-defining condition). In addition we would like to potentially measure antibody responses to HIV, other infectious agents, and human antigens, to see if antibodies (or high antibody titers) to these antigens are associated with Kaposi s sarcoma or HIV infection. We initially plan to examine samples from patients with Kaposi s sarcoma, since all those patients are almost certainly infected with HHV-8. We would subsequently plan to examine samples from HIV positive and HIV negative patients without known Kaposi s sarcoma. We are thus requesting permission to use samples from patients with and without previously diagnosed Kaposi's Sarcoma. In addition to antibody testing, we would also like to examine these samples for evidence of infection with other infectious agents, such as newly identified or unknown viruses, using techniques such as PCR or deep

sequencing.

Eligibility

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Data analysis only

Contacts and Locations

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Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00395278